---
title: Delete a message
---

import {TabItem, Tabs} from "@astrojs/starlight/components";

import FlattenedSteps from "../../components/FlattenedSteps.astro";
import ZulipTip from "../../components/ZulipTip.astro";
import MessageActions from "../include/_MessageActions.mdx";
import MessageActionsMenu from "../include/_MessageActionsMenu.mdx";
import MessageLongPressMenu from "../include/_MessageLongPressMenu.mdx";

import EditIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/edit";

Zulip lets you delete the content of your messages or delete messages completely
if these actions are allowed in your organization. Only server administrators
can restore deleted messages.

Organization administrators can
[configure](/help/restrict-message-editing-and-deletion) who can edit and delete
their own messages, and who can delete any message. They can also set time
limits on message editing and deletion.

## Delete message content

Editing a message to delete its content will cause the message to be displayed
as **(deleted)**.  The original sender and timestamp of the message will still
be displayed, and the original content of the message is still accessible via
Zulip's [edit history](/help/view-a-messages-edit-history) feature.  This can be
the best option for avoiding confusion if other users have already responded to
your message.

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <MessageActions />

      1. Click the **pencil** (<EditIcon />) icon. If you do not see
         the **pencil** (<EditIcon />) icon, you do not have
         permission to delete the content of this message.
      1. Delete the content of the message.
      1. Click **Save**.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Mobile">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <MessageLongPressMenu />

      1. Tap **Edit message**. If you do not see the **Edit message** option,
         you do not have permission to change the content of this message.
      1. Delete the content of the message.
      1. Tap **Save**.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Delete a message completely

In some cases, such as when a message accidentally shares secret information, or
contains spam or abuse, it makes sense to delete a message completely. Deleted
messages will immediately disappear from the UI in all official Zulip clients.

Any uploaded files referenced only by deleted messages will be immediately
inaccessible. Note that an uploaded file shared in multiple messages will be
deleted only when *all* of those messages are deleted.

It's important to understand that anyone who received the message
before you deleted it could have made a copy of its content. Even if
no one is online when you send the message, users may have received
the message via email or mobile notifications. So if you
accidentally shared secret information that you can change, like a
password, you may want to change that password regardless of whether
you also delete the message.

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <MessageActionsMenu />

      1. Select **Delete message**. If you do not see the **Delete message** option,
         you do not have permission to delete this message completely.
      1. Approve by clicking **Confirm**.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Mobile">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <MessageLongPressMenu />

      1. Tap **Delete message**. If you do not see the **Delete message** option,
         you do not have permission to delete this message completely.
      1. Approve by tapping **Delete**.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

<ZulipTip>
  You can delete messages sent by [bots that you
  own](/help/view-your-bots) just like messages you sent yourself.
</ZulipTip>

## Restoring deleted messages

For protection against accidental or immediately regretted
deletions, messages deleted directly or via a [message retention
policy](/help/message-retention-policy) are archived for 30 days in a
format that can be restored by a server administrator.  After that
time, they are permanently and irrecoverably deleted from the Zulip
server.  Server administrators can adjust the archival time using
the `ARCHIVED_DATA_VACUUMING_DELAY_DAYS` setting.

## Message notifications

When a message is deleted, any [pending email
notifications](/help/email-notifications#configure-delay-for-message-notification-emails)
for that message will be canceled, and
[mobile](/help/mobile-notifications) and
[desktop](/help/desktop-notifications) notifications will be removed,
including [mentions and alerts](/help/dm-mention-alert-notifications).

## Related articles

* [Delete a topic](/help/delete-a-topic)
* [Archive a channel](/help/archive-a-channel)
* [Message retention policy](/help/message-retention-policy)
* [Edit a message](/help/edit-a-message)
* [Restrict message editing and deletion](/help/restrict-message-editing-and-deletion)
